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"Mr. Shen, you are indeed calculative..."

In response to Tian Heng’s words, Shen Er did not retort but smiled and said, "Fortune and glory come with risks.

My Shen Family has done such things before.

Back then, allying with Chen Qing was a gamble.

We handed over all our resources and ceded full control to Chen Qing, which is why we have our current scale. "

"Our lord has already been generous enough to General Tian. The naval resources of the West Sea Dragon Palace were given to you, not to Xuu Hu. With this alone, you ought to see the sincerity. But now... is General Tian only planning to maintain the status quo, unwilling to take one bold leap?"

Hearing this, Tian Heng slowly closed his eyes.

Indeed, he was at a bottleneck, and this was precisely why he had voluntarily gone to Yundu to rescue Chen Qing.

He needed significant military achievements to push his ceiling higher.

The other two Gods of Battle had already been selected.

If things remained unchanged on his end, he wouldn’t even think about surpassing Xuu Hu; he might even be overtaken by the other Gods of Battle.

As Shen Er had said, anyone who enlists in the military aims for a brighter future.

The people of Jiangnan live stable lives.

For those merely seeking subsistence, there are plenty of other professions.

But enlisting means striving for a better tomorrow.

Yet, the Western Sea Army had been criticized lately for its lack of upward mobility.

If this problem was not resolved, the Western Sea Army would always remain a hereditary force, and over time, it might even prompt suspicion from the lord...

"What kind of benefits can Mr. Shen promise?" Tian Heng asked after thinking it through, letting out a sigh.

"I knew General Tian was someone who could see the bigger picture.

.." Shen Er smiled and said, "Based on the current military ranking system, the higher the rank, the better the benefits posthumously.

One can become a Shadow Soldier in the Netherworld, and their rank increases by one level, doubling their salary.

As for the Power of Faith, you can rest assured.

My Shen Family has the capacity to provide as much as is needed, guaranteeing ample resources and benefits.

Surely, the advantages of becoming a Shadow Soldier ought to be clear to everyone, correct? "

Tian Heng nodded faintly. Soldiers in the Netherworld enjoyed extended lifespans, with a starting point of 300 years.

Once someone occupied such a position, their family could reap significant benefits.

They could earn Netherworld perks for their loved ones.

Many families had been desperate to secure positions in the Netherworld but had failed to do so.

Undoubtedly, many would jump at this opportunity.

"Would the lord agree to the Shen Family wielding control over so many Shadow Soldiers?"

"Our lord’s vision is not that narrow...

" Shen Er said with a smile. "In the future, there will definitely be territorial expansion. When the Divine Path Sect expands its territory, the Netherworld will also open up the Path of Yin Yang. The ancient forces won’t miss this opportunity. Once several Ghost Venerates awaken, the Netherworld’s military pressure will increase dramatically.

Right now, there’s a rare opportunity to bolster our forces; why wouldn’t the lord agree? "

"You certainly know how to maneuver..." Tian Heng sneered coldly.

The Shen Family, already commanding the Netherworld of three major cities, wielded enormous influence. If they gained control over military power, it might go too far—burning oil on a raging fire. Eventually, someone from the Shen Family would face the consequences.

"What happens in the Shen Family is not something General Tian should concern himself with. General, what is your decision?"

"Alright..." In the end, Tian Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Since Mr. Shen has pointed things out this clearly, it would be embarrassing for me not to follow along. But regarding this mission to extinguish the Buddhist Temple, I ask for the full support of the Shen Family!"

"Of course!" Shen Er replied solemnly, "Our prosperity is shared, our misfortunes intertwined. Jiangnan is our root, and no matter what, eliminating the dangerous Buddhist Temple is our top priority!"

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"Lord Wang, will General Tian Heng listen to you?"

Wang Ye and Wei Gongzhan had not left the checkpoint.

They needed to stay to observe the situation here and also to find out the fate of Wei Gongcheng.

If there was even the slightest chance of saving him, they had to give it their all.

After all, the spot for the Super Life Forms was meant for Wei Gongcheng!

"Of course not..." Wang Ye shook his head. "Tian Heng’s faction is too rigidly tied to family-based troops. The Shen Family will undoubtedly persuade him to take this opportunity to reshape things. Duke Qi is an ambitious man and will most likely be convinced."

"Then..." Wei Gongzhan instantly became anxious. "Won’t that play right into the hands of the Princess Royale?"

"And so what if it does?" Wang Ye looked out with a cold gaze and said, "Chen Qing anticipated all of this long ago. He himself doesn’t know whether he will succeed in the end. Perhaps you misunderstand one thing. While I lean more toward Chen Qing, that doesn’t mean I am wholly on his side. So long as we can resist those ancient forces and extraterrestrial entities, whether it’s the Siao Family, the King of Qin, or Jiangnan, they are all the same to me. "

"The three of them each have their schemes, but their stance against external threats is consistent!"

Wei Gongzhan: "....."

"But the lord still entrusted you with the most critical task."

Wang Ye glanced at him. "So what?"

"Then I will do as you say," Wei Gongzhan took a deep breath and said, "The lord wouldn’t choose the wrong person. The lord surely knows your perspective. Even if the lord ultimately fails, the lord has faith in you—and perhaps there’s one thing you omitted. It’s not just the Princess Royale and the King of Qin; your stance against external threats is aligned with the lord too. "

Wang Ye paused briefly, then smiled. Looking at this stern-faced young man of merely twenty years old, he patted his shoulder. "What an exceptional mirror of loyalty. The people Chen Qing has found... are anything but ordinary...."

A mirror of loyalty?

Wei Gongzhan was confused, not understanding what the other meant.

"Let’s move..."

"To where?"

"To see the King of Qin!"

"What?"

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"Brothers, that’s about the situation..." Tian Heng convened his soldiers, choosing not to conceal the truth. After all, if he did and it later came to light, morale would collapse completely.

"The side effects of this medicine are severe. Once you take it, even if you survive this time, at most, you’ll have two to three years to live. If anyone is willing to take it voluntarily, the Netherworld will offer substantial benefits!"

"This..." Many direct descendants of the affiliated families stiffened after hearing this, exchanging uneasy glances.

They certainly had no intention of using the medicine.

As direct descendants who had enjoyed a wealth of resources under Tian Heng, they weren’t foolish enough to sacrifice themselves.

A promotion in the Netherworld with a rank increase—so what?

Could it offer better treatment than what they currently had?

But they couldn’t stop those below them from being tempted.

A direct appointment in the Netherworld, a rank promotion, and doubled benefits, along with family perks in the Netherworld—such opportunities were rare...

Not everyone in the Tian Family Army enjoyed the same high treatment. As a force made up of family soldiers, its inherent flaws were evident. Offspring from concubines were always ranked lower than those of the main line and could rarely rise in status.

Now, if they could take a gamble on the Netherworld, they would effectively escape their family’s grasp and start afresh.

What’s so bad about the Netherworld?

Shadow Soldiers were allowed to reunite with their families and could secure posthumous benefits for them—something the Western Sea Army couldn’t provide.

Direct descendants from the families understood this, which is why their expressions were grim.

Because if large numbers of non-direct descendants signed up, their influence would wane significantly!

In the Western Sea Army, families formed factions to insulate themselves from outside forces, making them highly exclusionary.

This was one of the reasons why the Western Sea Army had a tarnished reputation.

Even among Jiangnan’s internal population, locals avoided it whenever possible, often preferring to join the City Defense Army instead.

Currently, the main force was drawn from Southeast County. But if the factional weaknesses became widely known, enlistment from the Southeast would likely dwindle.

Many people were aware of this issue, but when it came to personal interests, no one would bother to address it.

"General..." A few family representatives exchanged glances before stepping forward reluctantly. "This... might not be appropriate?"